Taxes- To Pay or Not?

its that time again, time to pay our taxes.  We hear so much about the demands on each of us to pay taxes.  To me the whole thing is quite simple.  This is the conversation that Jesus had with the Pharisees about taxes.  First the Pharisees used flattery.  They talked of Christ's integrity and His teaching of the way of God always in truth. They also stated that men had no sway over what Christ did and that Christ did not pay attention to them.  Sometimes I think we would be a lot better off if we didn't pay attention to some of the things going on around us.    Sorry, I must digress momentarily.  I am really amazed that anyone could call what goes on television and radio news.  It is absurd.  I think sometimes the corporately owned media has decided to spoon feed use with dribble to keep us distracted as a society.  Their motto is like Jack Nicholson's line in one of his movies: "Truth, You can't handle the truth!"  And we need the truth if we want to continue to have a democracy. Things of real importance need to be covered and all the other trappings about celebrity need to be trashed. Frankly, I could care less who tweeted what, I want to hear what is really going on but I don't know if we have a real journalisst anymore.  My first journalism instructor said, "This is what you need to ask when you write a story, Who, What, When, Where and Why."   He called them the five "Ws".  Okay back on the path.  After these leading comments were made, to Jesus by the Pharisees, he recognized and actually verbalized their real intent.  This is one of the most interesting things because Jesus knows and knew what was in the mind of these so called believers just as He knows our own motivations and intent of our hearts. He immediately accused the Pharisees of hypocrisy and trying to set a trap.  He demanded a coin for paying taxes from them and asked whose face is upon it?  They declared it was "Caesars's.  Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."

So many, today, are complaining about the way their taxes are used.  As a democracy, we have a right to assess what is being done with the money we put into our government. If our government is paralyzed, we need to elect a new congress, people who can work together like adults doing the tasks they were hired to do.  Remember they are all on the dole, collecting our taxes in the form of a paycheck.  I think that a government needs taxes to provide a cohesiveness in our society otherwise differences would be made based on the availability of money.  Some areas because they are poor would not have even the basic necessities, like clean water and police and fire departments and schools.   We all need roads, bridges, dams, parks, libraries, schools, programs that help those who are weak and sick among us.  We need a military and medical coverage for all of those who are serving in this capacity.  We need programs to assist those who are elderly, disabled or unable to care for themselves and I personally think any civilized country should offer medical care to all of its citizens. .  How can we not?  I really believe the strongest testimony of a  great nation is how it treats its weakest citizen.  This is also the case of a great church.  A great church no matter how small is one that tries to help its weakest member.  Jesus told many people the story of the good Samaritan.  This story lays out a framework of what every individuals responsibility should be.  It is obvious that not everyone has the time, funds or ability to help all the people who need it. Jesus said that just a cup of water given in His name would be honored.  Many insist that helping the needy is the duty of the church but most churches who desire to help are very limited in resources.  I would be bold to say that all who claim to be Christian in this country don't show up at church.  The few who do carry the load for all.  With a need so great, resources must come from a place of equal greatness.  The wealthy give to their foundations and charities.  They can hire lawyers and tax accountants who help them get a nice tax break.

In many ways America is like Rome.  We have become the imperalist nation that appears to want to conquer the world.  Rome made every effort to do the same thing.  If we just backed out of all the unecessary occupations of other countries even those we claim to be helping and let people work out their own problems, America's reputation would improve tremendously.  If we look over the world and see areas that we can help, not with soldiers and guns, but with generosity, not pilfering their resources for our own gain, but helping them develop and keep it; what a different world this could be.  It is hard to pay taxes and see our country do the things we do not like but out of obedience to the laws of the land we each, that means corporate America and the weathly should be required to pay as well. As a democracy we must band together to demand that those we elect act responsibly and treat the tax laws in a way that fairly distributes the burden.  Those who have little should pay nothing. Those who have some should pay some and those who have much Jesus said. To whom much is given much is required and that my friend is the Real Truth.